A scene from an old production of Goldilocks & The Three Bears

A community group in Bristol, SW England has produced a modern version of the children's tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears. But in this performance, "Goldilocks' Asbo and the Three Bears", Goldilocks' actions are seen as crimes and she receives an Asbo - an Anti Social Behaviour Order.

Listen to the story

In the folk story, Goldilocks discovers the bears' empty house and eats their porridge while the animals are out. The bears come back and are furious to find Goldilocks asleep in their bed. But in the modern version - "Goldilocks' Asbo and the Three Bears", the heroine commits criminal damage by breaking and entering the bears' home. Then she commits theft by eating their porridge and to top it all she commits vandalism after breaking baby bear's chair.

Goldilocks is arrested and sent up before a judge where she is sentenced to complete community service and given an Anti Social Behaviour Order.

Listen to the words

Asbo
short for 'anti social behaviour order' - an official, legal and public warning that continuation of bad behaviour which upsets other members of the public can lead to more serious punishment; used to help reduced and prevent bad behaviour

the new take on
the modern or latest version, interpretation or understanding of

hoodie-wearing
people who wear a sweater or jumper that includes a section which is worn on the head - often associated with anti-social behaviour in the media

bling-sporting
wearing a lot of very shiny jewellery so that you'll be noticed by many people

the long arm of the law
the police, the section of the legal system which is most able to catch criminals anywhere and at any time

panto
short for 'pantomime' - a traditional, funny type of musical theatre based on children's stories that's usually shown during holidays such as Christmas. Audiences are encouraged to interact and men are often dressed as women.

breaking and entering
a crime where someone enters a property without permission, usually forcing their way in by damaging a lock, for example

and to top it all
and to make matters worse, and to add to the seriousness of the situation

vandalism
deliberately damaging or destroying other people's property

community service
here, unpaid, useful work to society that someone is ordered to do by a judge. The work is done as punishment for crimes which were not serious enough for a prison sentence.

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